At the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) in Chicago, Illinois, 19 different administrative law judges (ALJ) conduct Social Security Disability (SSD) hearings and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) hearings. Currently, in Chicago, the average wait time for a SSI or SSD hearing is 17.0 months. The average case processing time in Chicago is 579 days.The Chicago average for winning a SSI or SSD disibility hearing is 43%. Click on the name of one of the ALJs below to see detailed information about their hearing results. This information for the Chicago ODAR office was last updated on 9/7/2016.

LATEST COMMENTS
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He is as bad as the others on here say, he should be fired or tried for charges. I had him for an ALJ in 2015, I'm still waiting in late 2016 for the Appeals Council to hopefully reverse this vile man's discretion. Like other people have said on here his typical mode of operation is to gave little weight to your several years doctor and all of the doc's supporting imaging and tests. Just like above, He ignored the VE saying there was no jobs I could do. He gave me an RFC of "less than light work" yet said I could do fastfood or clerking. My doc gave me an RFC of "not capable of any job" because of a laundry list of serious back problems in all 3 areas of my back, pinched nerves, DDD, broken vertebrates ect., Grippo ignored that. This vile man denies people who clearly can't work anymore, doesn't care and laughs it off. There needs to be a petition to remove this heartless thug from his job.

It's been 7 months since I had my hearing and still no decision....I suffer from hydranitis and has have several surgeries in the past 3 years....he has agreed that I can't work and even the occupational experts agreed as well...but yet my case is still in post review and just today I've gotten an eviction notice because now I can't pay my rent because all my savings are gone....what gives these ppl deny us of money we put into the system in case we become disabled and when we do they drag on decision makings and are paid by us because they are public servants....this judge sucks

I had court today for PTSD, degressive depressive disorder and anxiety. The judge and his assistant were very polite even though I was tearful, nervous and full of anxiety out of my control. I really feel like he listened to me and understood I was being honest with my case. I pray I receive a fully favorable soon as no decision was made in court. He is not mean like everyone says and if I could work I would and I respect a man his age working. He has a tracheostomy and speaks through a voice box but is very easy to understand. I was previously a Respiratory Therapist so it may have been easier for me to understand him but he was smart, kind and understanding in my opinion. I have a great respect for my elders and I think he saw that.
My medical records prove it all so I have great faith he will make the right decision and approve me as soon as possible.
Don't let these other posts scare you all. He isn't who he is made out to be on these negative posts.

Thank you Judge Logan for saving my life. I was in very bad shape when I came into your courtroom. I was fighting so many battles and had loss my baby brother. You were merciful and heard my case with your heart. Thank you for giving me back my dignity and vindicating me. I have been sick for years and now I see a way to get the help I need. A thousand thank You's wouldn't be enough. From my heart to yours. Thank you!

A racist judge from a republican state (Indiana)....only came to Illinois so she can deny as many people as she possibly can because President Obama is from Illinois and represented Illinois and is now the President of the US. She needs to pack up and move back to Indiana because she is not welcomed here!

Heavily biased against the mentally ill. Cherry-picks statements from doctors to support her own conclusions while completely ignoring the opinions of other treatment professionals. Focuses on minor issues such as grooming (she puts a *lot* of stock in appearance) and uses them to make completely unfounded allegations of malingering. If you haven't had the money to obtain tests or get treatment for a problem, she'll use it against you. Takes your own words out of context, twists them around, and makes it appear as if you said something you didn't. Dismisses evidence when it's inconvenient. This sorry excuse for a human being has her mind made up in advance and if it's set against you, you're screwed. I would give her no stars if possible.
Thanks, Judge, for calling me a liar, relying entirely on what that fool of a doctor said, ignoring the views of the person who sees me every week (if you'd read her notes you'd know I'm really not that well-groomed), contradicting yourself, saying I refuse to take one class medication I actually take (could've just checked the list I gave you) and failing to notice that I had to tell Dr. Useless THREE TIMES that I COULDN'T take another class because the side effects are too severe. I don't have the energy to go to the appeals council. I'm done.

Don't be fooled by this judge's pleasant demeanor. He's no-nonsense, but will treat you nicely. But. This is a judge who believes that most people who are disabled are trying to game the system and just want a way to take an early retirement.
If you have lived a decent, law-abiding, hard-working, middle-class life, getting disability is no fun pay day. You aren't getting to live high on the hog. It allows you to eat. That's pretty much it.
If he bothered looking at the whole person, what kind of life they led, the kind of work they did, what is preventing them from doing so now, he'd see that most people aren't just burger flippers or factory workers on their feet whose vague claims of back pain seek to get them out of a hard-working, low pay existence. Many of us loved our jobs and never wanted to stop. We were paid well and led middle-class lives. We would not seek disability unless our pain and conditions made working unbearable.
If you are being treated by doctors and specialists, and are on heavy pain meds; have given up your good life and existed in relative poverty, waiting to be awarded a pittance so you can now just put enough food on your table, this judge, like a certain percentage, should, take this into account, but don't. Compassion is left at the door. It should not be the overwhelming criteria that decides cases, but a modicum of human decency, when recognized, can help make a difference if he and others of his bent would actually see the person sitting before them. We are not numbers, to be caught up in judges trying to redress a balance of leniency. But that is how we're viewed. And then they go home and sleep, impervious to people who really can't work, who then become homeless. Who must rely on friends and family to eat.
If you are unlucky enough to get a conservative judge, whose only focus is to comply with the push to curb what they see as runaway disability approvals, your case will fall victim to a numbers game. Judges like Paul Armstrong will likely only approve cases that are most likely terminal, or something incredibly catastrophic, like paralysis from a stroke. Otherwise, you are looking at a flat, outright denial. My disability lawyer sighed and apologized when discovering who my judge was. He tried to keep a glimmer of hope alive by telling me to keep positive, maybe I'd be part of the miniscule approval. But we both knew what the odds were.
If you are unfortunate enough to recieve this judge, I'm really sorry. Your case will not be judged fairly. Period.

Judge Sheldon Zisook at age 82 shouldn't be a judge any longer. He denied me 2 times even though he sent me to 4 different doctors. Every doctor including my primary said I am disabled but the judge doesn't believe any of them. He plays GOD with peoples lives. After the first denial, it went to the Appeals Council and they sent a letter remanding it back to the judge to take care of what they lined out along with the recommendation to make a new decision. He refused to do what the Appeals Council told him to do. He is bad for Arizona.

Very unhappy this judge mixing up all the facts in the case and also not looking into the misdiagnosis on my case file. I had severe pain in my back upper and lower and possible nerve damage, I was bed ridden for months even and currently in physical therapy. The judge had the vocational counselor come out and tell me I could do work in a factory which indeed could harm my health condition, I could not believe this when I heard it. Not only did the judge make many assumptions she thought I was just perfectly fine, she took everything out of context and reversed it backwards on me. I even sent her more evidence as to her mistakes in her judgements, she never looked at my case and dismissed everything.. my new evidence and xrays , Dr's letters etc. The fact my case was from the get go misdiagnosed and my previous condition of 15 years erased and now I am classified as having some mental condition I was appalled and disgusted with this I will surely appeal with a lawyer. No wonder she has a 43% approval rating, thanks for the facts.

Before my hearing my lawyer had me so stressed, I took triple my stress medication. He told me not to say anything only yes or no to any question, let him do the talking. So I guess it was my fault I was denied. Judge Armstrong was such a Gentleman, I answered all questions he asked. I do not remember much of my hearing but when someone treats me as a person and not just a number. I respect that person. YES my case was denied, I have appealed. I feel my case was not presented properly. I did not get to see what my lawyer presented before hand. a lot of what was presented was wrong. He did not put my new Doctors diagnosis. So if I lose this I will file again WITHOUT A LAWYER. Thanks.....

O.K. This is my second attempt to share my comments about Judge Armstrong. Before my hearing my lawyer had me so stressed, I took triple my stress medication. He told me not to say anything only yes or no to any question, let him do the talking. So I guess it was my fault I was denied. Judge Armstrong was such a Gentleman, I answered all questions he asked. I do not remember much of my hearing but when someone treats me as a person and not just a number. I respect that person. YES my case was denied, I have appealed. I feel my case was not presented properly. I did not get to see what my lawyer presented before hand. a lot of what was presented was wrong. He did not put my new Doctors diagnosis. So if I lose this I will file again WITHOUT A LAWYER. Thanks.....

I have appeared before ALJ Skidmore many times and have nothing but good to say about this judge. He is objective, impartial, polite and patient with both, attorneys and clients. I don't recall him ever denying a claim without a solid ground for an unfavorable finding. It's a pleasure to work with him.

My husband received his decision by ALJ Zisook. Since it is "fully favorable", it might sound that I am subjective but really not, just want to give my 2 cents, since I visited this site before and knew that I can leave a comment.
Firstly, when my husband had a hearing, several hours later, he said that judge "was not asking stupid questions and didn't prolong hearing more than necessary, because my husband has fear of other people and when he came put, he didn't remember anything that went in there immediately after it was done, because he was scared and just wanted to go home and there, after several hours, he said simply "Judge didn't ask stupid questions and let me go before I had a panic attack".
After reading ALJ Zisook's decision today, I really have to say that he addressed every single medical source and his opinion on them. I literally mean he addressed everything, which means he really did look atound a lot before making a decision. And because of that, I would have left him 5 stars even if had denied him. I understand that denail of claim can make somebody become subjective in their comments. I really believe that ALJ Zisook is very professional. You might have different view but we all have our own circumstances (I am writing this instead of my husband, who had not used computer in several years, nor he watches TV etc...). Also, he had Stephanie Lake as his lawyer, I am sure she helped by pointing out to things that I, and especially my husband, would never know.

She acted like I was keeping her from something and every comment from my attorney or myself she sit there and blow like oh man do I have to sit here. When I got my decision she fabricated things and did not pay any attention to my doctors restrictions. She called me obese and I'm a little over weight but nothing to that fact and it had nothing to do with my case. And the people she had had little or no experience in these cases.she is rude and disrespectful and if there is a way to get her out or countersue for a judge name calling or if it's defacation of character I will find it . she paid no mind to my pain in my back or legs and she called myself and my doctors liars and that I don't have edema in my legs and I can lift 20 to 30 pounds and I can stand for long periods. She has no idea what she is doing and I think she only picks certain people to approve and I think caucasion women are not one of them. I want to be heard by someone else who will act like they care

The System is broken if you are not disable you will likely get it folks that are truly disable and need it typically do not get it these Judges are not Medical Professionals but they get to decide if you will be approved I had a hearing with Pactrica Bucci she is the worst Judge in Phoenix you pretty much got to be bed ridden with a few months to live before this Judge will approve you. I waited 3 years to get a slap in the face. I am 50 years old with Herniated Disk, Anxiety. Depression with Psychotic Features they put me through so much going to several of their Doctors test after test after test to no avail I even had to go to another one of their Doctors after the Hearing it is simply a Ponzi Scheme I worked all of my life the Government took money out of my weekly check which Money I will never see again My advice is if your are filing for disability and you are in North Phoenix area MOVE!!!to a different part of the Valley try to get in the Phoenix Area you will be a lot better off look at some of the others Judges approval rates Bucci has a 21% approval rate simply impossible to win...

Judge Wardell made a decision on my case, it seems without reading or understanding the medical records provided. If you have this judge, be prepared to be called a liar, despite having objective evidence to support your claim.

It is my concern that the standards provided by Social Security to the administrators are biased towards applicants who have ready access to medical services. I'm sure this was not the intent, but it is the reality.

I went in to my hearing expecting the worst, but Judge Armstrong listened to my case and quickly understood why I could not work. I am only 32 years old battling heart issues and he understood this, when the lower levels of the process did not.

I don't like being called a liar and a like it even less when my spouse is called a liar. Yet that is the strong implication in Madam Buccis written decision on my spouses case.
I am too close to my spouse for anything that I say to be considered in the case according to this so called judge. She picked out the medical opinions that she wanted and totally dismissed others. Overwhelming evidence is irrelevant if there is just one differing opinion so the one opinion is chosen over the collective because it is the desired opinion. That seems to be this government employees methodology.
Madam Bucci had no clue regarding my spouses medical issues although the conditions are clearly explained in the medical reports the Madam received.
If only there was some way that Madam Bucci could experience the pain and frustration that she has wrought... My only comfort is that statistically most Americans experience a devastating illness at some point in their lives. I hope that when she finally does that she will receive understanding similar to her judgments and that people treat her with the same incredulity and insult as she has treated others.

She does not like to listen if you are sick. She only respects the social security administration, she is the worse judge. Very strong. She thinks that the people lie and invent what the disability people is suffering

If you need help filing a complaint you can call 202-502-2600. They will help you step by step. The north phoenix office will not let you file a complaint if you have filed an appeal. They seem to think that the appeal is a complaint and they are no help at all.

He had his mind made up before the hearing approval rating nation wide 62% at a hearing. My God Armstrong's is 15% I had no chance at all. KY quit hearings here and now are run video from Chicago he compared my problems with a different case all together. 28 months of waiting for this I am applying on my own again and turning in everything i possibly can and hope i never have to see another one of these judges again. I am losing my place to live being evicted from the land i rent to put my mobile home on my landlord will take it he knows i can't afford to move it, everythings being turned off. Me and my kids will be on the street my x husband has stage 3 cancer no child support he can't work. I hope this judge feels the pain i do right now it would kill him to be where i'm at he couldn't handle it.

Can you explain, without using the word: CORRUPTION, or mentioning crooks, ie Debra Bice, Carolyn Colvin, Sherry Thompson, David Thompson et al., why a 100% Service-Connected DISABLED veteran, who hasn't been gainfully employed since honorable discharge 1987 would be denied ssdi benefits ? Do you think the SSA has more criminals employed than does the VA ? Have you blown the whistle on any of the crooks you see at the SSA ?

Their is a judge in New York that has the same type of approval rate as Bucci. That judge is now being sued for biased oppinions. At a rate of only 25% approval they are finding certain ALJ are only approving people connected to certain attorneys (payoffs?). So maybe it's time to find out Buccis reasoning and make her explain herself to a court herself . If you have worked 20-50 years of your life you've paid your dues. I've never went to a judge for a biopsy or operation so why are they making the decisions i would think a medical review board of actual Dr's would be the better option to determine a persons disability. Oh and by the way Social Security gives ALJ a 2 month time period to make a decision Bucci seems to think that does not apply to her. If you contact SS they will contact the judge and tell her/him to make a decision. people who lived worked paid taxes should not be going homeless for 5-10 years while the system drags out the process. It's very obvious they are just waiting for us to die so they don't have to pay.

ZISOOK MADE INAPPROPIATE COMENT TO ME THAT WOULD HAVE PUT ME IN CONTEMPT OF COURT, I REPORTED THIS TO SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN WITH NO HELP AND TO SOCIAL SECURITY ADMIN. THEY SAID THERE WOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION. MONTHS LATER AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very kind, very professional and very detail oriented. This judge took the time to hear the facts of my case and I believe he applied all the rules and regulations to my case. I was Fully Favorably approved and I most certainly appreciate the keen insight of this judge.

Well it's been 8 months since I filed another appeal against Judge Bucci and have not even heard anything back on if it was received. I have been denied twice by this judge even though we won on a remand and got her decision overturned in 03/2012. They sent me back to Judge Bucci again who was obviously peeved we overturned her decision the first time. Why would they send you back to the same judge who denied you already? I am convinced judge Bucci has a vendetta against me for making her look bad on the appeal overturn. She is a bitter biased woman who needs to leave our state!!! I am so disgusted on this entire matter I can't even put my disgust unto words. 5 years I have been waiting for benefits while a I see people all around me get it for stupid stuff and I am far more disabled than they are. This system is so biased and unfair. I worked and pain into SSD for 30 years making 50 k a year. I can't work full time now and never will again. Why am I being penalized? Because Judge Bucci judgmentaland is a very biased judge!

I did not approve of this disabled judge from the beginning, he forgot he swore me in. asked the court reporter if I had been sworn in, she said no. So he swore me in a second time ( real competent !!) Then when repeating my name, he said he was going to call me by my first name" BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO ME !!!!! " I TOOK OFFENSE TO THIS. THIS WAS TOTALLY UNAPPROPRIATE. I WOULD BE HELD IN CONTEMPT IF I SAID THAT TO A JUDGE. HE HAS A DIFFERENT CODE OF EHTICS THAN ANYONE BELOW HIM HAS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED FROM MOST OF MY RETAIL JOBS IF I APPROACHED ANYONE WITH THAT COMMENT. HE SHOULD NOT BE ON THAT BENCH. HIS JUDGEMENTS WERE EXXAGERATED AND UNTRUE, SO HE ALSO LIES. I AM TOATLLY DISQUESTED. I REQUESTED THE AUDIO OF THE HEARING AS PROOF. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THIS INCOMPETENT OUTSPOKEN JUDGE.

A bitter judge, you can tell in every paragraph of her denial. I think she belongs in Chicago not Phoenix just her tone and misrepresentation in her decisions says alote about her frame of mind. Do these judges have medical or law backgroundg or are they appointed. I do know this my decline by her states I have 2 major ailments she could not argue against but was still declined with 4 jobs listed. Why is she so bitter, might be the heat or good old fashon not knowing her job.

My sister went to a hearing with judge Skidmore last September 2013. We;her family ,friends,former co-workers have seen how her health have deteriorated in the past 5 years. Judge Skidmore looked like a fair man,listening, making visual contact, empathetic gestures as the hearing got into the subjects that caused her to apply for disability.
The vocational expert was clear on the recommendation when the "hypothetical" scenario was mentioned. He said that there was no jobs that the person on the hypothetical situation could do. Our representative did not help either since we had to request an investigation for possible fraud to the social security. We were fully cooperative and she wrote a letter to the judge(heartbreaking) because she has been out of work for 3 years. Attempted to work multiple times and fired from jobs due to related incidents to get impairments.
She is in the streets, not good enough to get hired by any employer but not ill enough to be considered disabled due to paperwork I guess. A person who had been out of work for 3 years will not have the financial means to attend to every medical appointment, to pay for her medicines...and yes for transportation etc.
And yes after all that she got a non favorable decision, I'm typing as I'm watching her sleep at a hospital's room after attempting suicide earlier today. What does it take for this people to act like human beings? It seems like someone's life. And by the way the hearing was in September, this judge just made a decision on January 31st.
Thanks

When the court started judge Lariccia read off to me my condition. She had not read all my medical and when told this at the hearing she still could not accessit without my lawyers help. She went into the hearing with precocieved notions and never changed them. When the vocational counselor from the state went over jobs he stated i couldnot perform light duty with my conditions I stated to the Judge. In her decision Judge Lariccia said she agrees with the doctor that I have severe pain but I can still perform a light duty job. Then she spelled out what i could perform as it relates to lifting. Noware in any reports or FCE did it say I could do that. Also she said the vocational couselor said I could perform light duty with my spoken evidence. He never said that. I faxed in a release for the hearing proceedings and never recieved them.
In my opinion Judge Lariccia was not prepared for the case, and looking at her basis for decision she never read all the medical.

Judge Bucci has every right to deny someone. I was denied and that is totally fine, like I said it is her job. What I don't like is in her letter she insults you, calls you a liar, tells you that the letters from Dr's don't mean anything. Judge Bucci gives no weight to VA evaluations of people, as she stated in other words in my letter, but yet relied on them enough that SSA never sent me for an evaluation with one of their Dr's. She insults the VA evaluaters who are just doing their job but relied on the opinion of the state medical Dr. who has never seen me or evaluated me (she contradicts herself constantly). I guess the VA has no weight because they didn't state what she thought they should have, what would they know they are just Dr's. Judge Bucci is an insecure, hateful, hag who should be seen for mental issues herself.
Like I said it's not the denial of the benefits it's the personal insults within her letter. She needs to be removed from the bench she is far from impartial she needs to understand people in pain use drugs that how we are treated. She never considers that maybe the Dr. who wrote those comments where covering up for the fact that he was the one who proscribed the over dosage leading to the medication addiction. Oops, did I put somebody who never used narcotics before on a larger dose of daily Diladid, well it isn't my fault it has to be his better write that down as well. She stated I drove from Oregon and that demonstrated I could sit longer than I claimed but failed to mention that I was in the ER almost immediately within my arrival in Arizona and had a suicide attempt shortly after. I think those are important facts don't you. She fails to mention the multiple surgeries I have now had on my backs which the Dr's felt needed surgery and pain control. I have had 4 back surgeries, a suicide attempt, I have sleep apnea which has been confirmed by a sleep study, I have had PE's, I'm on blood thinners, I have a GAF Score of 45, I have been diagnosed with Asthma, I have been diagnosed with chronic pain by a professional psychologist who specializes in pain (what does she want)!
She manipulates her letters and only points to facts that support how she feels about you as a person and not the medical facts and issues at hand. All I can say is Ma'am, I might be in pain and might have some issues but I'm sure glad I'm not as miserable and hateful as you are. I'm sorry to see that anybody would put you in any position of judgement because you are a clear and concise example of why there isn't any justice in this country anymore and I'm sure your closet has all kinds of dirty little secrets.
I'm glad you denied me as I don't want to be in a system with this type of professionalism. I hope you have a miserable life and know your probably hated by all that know you!
I don't mean to get off on the facts of the case, it's not that she denied me benefits, it's that she insulted me as a person, manipulated her letter, and called me liar even though a Dr. confirmed the diagnosis.
If you get her don't count on getting benefits.

After a 5x heart bypass in 2010 that has left me week and a tumor removed from my spinal cord in 2012 leaving a indent, loss of signal, numbness in legs, unable to be on my feet for 15 minutes and peridural fibroses in my lower back she said I am ok to work. Nevermind needing sleep 2-3 times a day, 6 meds for heart and diabeties, 2 for pain. Even the expert she had at the hearing said their was no work I could perform she herself came up with 4, one being "assembly work". This week I find out if the arteries in my neck needs to be done, at the time of the hearing they were L62%, R74% blocked and waiting to be cleared for another surgery. All this was documented at the hearing, MRI, surgical reports, rehab and not challenged by her. She is in over her head, her denial letter excluded testimony, medical reports even included a paragraph from another case about a lady, come on Bucci, I am a guy, if you are making things up at least get the gender and ailments right its more believable...

I have just received my decision letter from Judge Bucci for a remand hearing. This means I appealed her denial in 04/2012 and we managed to get her first decision overturned and a remand hearing. After 17 months of waiting, building the case, getting mri's and new evidence I was then sent back to this same judge. Yes you heard it!!! Same judge who denied me the first time. This is standard practice on a remand. We didn't just equal an impairment, we met the requirements of an impairment under diseases of the spine 1.04 with mris that backed us up along with other testing. Judge Bucci failed to even mention the MRI that proved we met the requirement. She minimized my impairments, disallowed every doctor I had in the last 4 years, wrote a19 page denial letter herself, not trusting a law writer to do it and threw stuff in that made no sense at all. We knew she was a bad judge on approvals but we expected to get a partially favorable decision from her considering the evidence we had. Nope..... Denied!!!!! This case has been ongoing since 2010 with no resolution. Now what? I appeal since she blatantly left information out and this is an error in law? Appeal and another 2 to 3 years with no benefits? Reapply? Lose all back pay and 1 1/2 years more no benefits? This is a nightmare I can't wake up from!!!' When a judge abuses power and gets the "I Am God, Doctor and shrink rolled up all in one" complex..it spells bad news for claimants desperately needing benefits. My lawyer's advice? Move...move far away from this North Phoenix Office!!!! Lawyers are turning down cases now from claimants who have a hearing scheduled here because they can't win and they can't work for free.

It seems very odd that all these judges had 40% plus cases approved prior to coming to phoenix north but even in there first year in phoenix north they approve a dramatically less amount of cases. Most judges were close to 50% approval before phoenix and to drop 20% approval rating based on nothing but geography is eye opening. It also seems odd that she has a consistent denial percentage over a 3 year period. As if they have a pre designated percentage they are to meet given to them from higher up the chain. This is actually factual on a federal level but the national accepted approval rating is much higher than 27%. I'm sure that is shocking to no one but the concern here is the blatant unfair judgments that are decided based on numbers and not the individuals plight. We could dismiss these percentages based on the fact that phoenix may hold a greater number of legitimately deniable cases than the national average but Judge Bucci was giving close to %50 approval in Chicago. No offense to Chicago but there is a zero possibilitie that Phoenix is any worse than Chicago in the fraud category or for that matter that people in Phoenix are any less capable of deciding for themselves prior to the application period if they are able bodied enough to work or not. The fact that this location has gotten to these numbers without a federal investigation only raises more questions. With a 10-15% approval going to the automatics, such as paraplegics and people of guaranteed wins it only leaves 15-20% shot for people who have unique or debatable disabilities such as pain and immeasurable conditions. I have yet to meet a Dr. that hasn't unequivocally said that there is no possibility that I can work again( I have seen 12 Drs/specialists over just the last two years) and I have been going through this process for three years with no approval and no light at the end of the tunnel. I hope to all who those truly incapable of creating even a meager living the best of luck in getting an approval. Remember if you stay with it long enough eventually your case will be in front of someone who actually looks at you as an individual and not a percentage.

I think it is time AZ residents start standing up about this unfair treatment from the North Phoenix SSD office!!! We are getting treated unfairly and have a far less chance of winning than any other AZ office of disability!!! 4 bad judges who deny 70 % of all hearing cases that cross their courtroom and this is discriminating against us that get our case stuck there. What can we do? Stand up and complain, write to Congress, Senate and everybody else...get it in the news!!!! Queens NY did it last year and they won against the bad judges there. Those judges were not even denying as many cases as this North Phoenix office is denying. If they can do it, why can't we? No, we can't get them fired, but we can try to get them out of our state!!!!

I don't think he understands medical conditions, To be that kind of judge when peoples health is a stake not only look at both sides but look up the conditions and have a better understanding of the health issues. The ssi doctors are paid to say yes they can still work. A Judge that is in this position should not take sides but know the health issue and make a fair choice.

Iam over 50 and I got denied.i heard if you get Armstrong you will get denied I got Armstrong and I got denied, he lived up to his reputation as far as I can see.I have no ideal how I will survive are if I will

She can't make up her mind on what she wants to do with the cases. She is always cancelling out the cases to please herself and she is self-serving. She can't do that big ALJ job. She works the employees too hard in order to make herself look good. She hollers at them and excuses them of her mistakes.

took the time to explain the law to me so I understood it. explained that if I did not have medical records before my insurance date ended I was not going to get disability. she spent time to help me figure out where I went to the doctor and then said she would try to get those records. don't think i'll get disabilty based on what she said, but at least she cares enough to try.

This "judge" is horrendous. I am waiting for 31 months now for her decision. Of course when you call the SSA office, the answer is you can do nothing but wait. The last time I called they told me to stop calling and bothering the office with unnecessary inquiries that obviously I have a complicated case (which I don't, I have a qualifying condition) and the ALJ will rule when she is ready to.
Meanwhile, I sit here with no insurance and my doctor's office patient rep told me she was going to prevent me from seeing the doctor any longer until I get my medicare in order.

Thankfully there is a higher level of judges to go on appeal. Bucci was overturned by higher powers and no, I never received a fair hearing from her. She ignored medical facts , treating source opinions and took it upon herself to make the decision without ever even weighing in consideration the treating sources and opinions. Do your homework folks, this Judge has one of the worst approval ratings in the nation and so does the Northern Phoenix Office. Their approval average is 36% at a hearing level and the national average is 47% at a hearing level. What does this mean? That means out of 100 cases, only 36 will be approved. Out of every 100 people who get to a hearing, 11 people more will be denied benefits that they really needed to survive. It gives pause for thought as to why this North Phoenix Office denies more cases than any other Arizona office. This is federal so all should be about equal but they are not. I pity you if your hearing in in the North Phoenix office.

as i said above, on 3/18
this judge seized upon my twice-weekly alcohol use, and called it "abuse". this led him to negate all my medical records, saying i could function without "alcohol abuse" (2 times weekly)
if this guy wants to deny your claim to keep his NHC ratios in order, he will find a way.

This ALJ used to be in the NHC in Chicago. Her award rate has been fairly consistent. She is pleasant, sometimes ready to start hearings early. She asks for opening and then she questions claimant. A good, strong work history is always a plus. She will do bench decisions too. In my experience this ALJ is very fair. All judges have to formuate opinions on crediblity and severity of symptoms.

Keep in mind when I added this note she had a 45% approval rating??
Not a very nice judge. She is very argumentative with the attorney as soon as you go on the record. Hearings can last about 2 hours she requires the client to bring all medications they are on as well. She will quiz the client about ALL medications and exactly which medication they take for what impairment. In addition she will need a simple outline of each treating doctor the client is seeing and for what condition they are seeing that particular doctor for (again it just doesn't seem she reads the records or the brief before hearing)but again she will argue why a family doctor is treating for specific impairments.
She is very argumentative and tends to give medical opinion about your case while citing incorrectly or mischaracetrizing the evidence. It is apparent she does NOT read briefs and for that fact she reads very little of the medical records that is how she mischaraterizes so much of the medical records.
Example: in my case she argued (yep) that my client only had one back impairment when several were listed and really counselor it's all the same (when no they are not) she will argue and try to get you to stipulate to her reasoning.
VE: she uses a VE but wants to skip over listing out the jobs the national numbers and the local numbers. She will again ask the attorney to stipulate that there are jobs without listing them out.
No doubt her hearings are ripe for appeal but need to take very detailed notes stay on your toes and if you do go to AC with an appeal GET THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE HEARING.

Pretty argumentative judge she tends to give a medical opinion about the case and cites to the record incorrectly.. Listen close you will need to correct her characterization of the medical evidence. Submitted a brief in the case and she did not read it before the hearing but still asked for a theory of the case wanting the attorney to repeat everything in the brief? Huh ...she has a pretty good approval rating so I am hopeful the decision will be favorable. If you are an attorney just be on your toes about how she characterizes the medical evidence. Will quiz your client about medications even though you have submitted med list she still expects the client to have them memorized even when they are a few pages long.

Polouse doesnt know a hole from a apple extremly incompitant as a judge or human bieng and should step down from the podeum she sits on for she unfit to judge others the worst jugde would nt trust her with a tooth pick

Judge Poulose is one smart judge with a lot of Social Security experience. She really knows the law and weighs the evidence fairly. Not every doctor is believable and she is able to explain why. She is very skilled at getting to the heart of the issues.

I don't understand how you get that RCALJ position on the 29th floor; when you never worked at 55 W. Monroe. You left all those cases unreviewed. Then you brought in judges that need to go on disability themselves. Maybe, you need to go on disability because something is wrong with you too. Just there to get the money which is stealing from the government; you along with those other sick in the head judges.

Why are you not at work. What kind of Guy are you. You don't hold hearings. I quess you don't want to work too. You just get a free government paycheck. Wow! the government must have a lot of money to just give away.

I had him for a video judge and i am no longer able to do prior jobs and yet he decided that i still can even though my doctors say no and cant do repetative things and that is jobs he says i can do. I am hoping the appeal works it has been long time and lot pain and stress which don't go away.

Not a good Judge. Pulls fast tricks on questioning with a lot of denials and he is a racist who reminds me of a Nazi Court. He also makes up stories so you cant get SSI. The DR on the phone said that there are no jobs with my multiple health problems. So he denied me. What a bad ALJ. Get rid of him now.

What a@!!!.. Ignores treating doctors opinions and findings. Gives great wieght to CE findings & SDM findings. Chooses only portions of medical records that are not favorable to the claimant being awarded benefits. Does not consider all exertional and non-exertional limitations & what impact they have on the true RFC.

I reviewed the comments about all Chicago Judges; I had a hearing before her and she seems knowledgeable and listened, she allowed the hearing to last over an hour. Other comments about the Chicago judges seem to be sour grapes by Obama supporters. They got the President and the Administration they asked for, now live with it.
You are an idiot

I reviewed the comments about all Chicago Judges; I had a hearing before her and she seems knowledgeable and listened, she allowed the hearing to last over an hour. Other comments about the Chicago judges seem to be sour grapes by Obama supporters. They got the President and the Administration they asked for, now live with it.

He shouldn't upset the Attorneys and make them so mad. He keeps the workers busy doing the same work over and over again. He doesn't review the cases timely so that the post development can be requested. He is terrible to work with. He lays the blame on the workers when it is him not working. They was so happy at Oak Park Terrance ODAR and Downtown ODAR that he was gone. Now he is making the lives of those at the National Hearing Center miseable.

I think she is very reasonable,she based her decisions from medical evidence,I'm sure sure she is more than qualified for her job,quit complaining.im still waiting for my result but no matter what her decision so be it,I'm thankful that I've reached to have a fair hearing.usmc vet

I think she is very reasonable,she based her decisions from medical evidence,I'm sure sure she is more than qualified for her job,quit complaining.im still waiting for my result but no matter what her decision so be it,I'm thankful that I've reached to have a fair hearing.usmc vet

This judge has approval rating of 43% and apparently uses the same justification for all her cases. She states while the impairment is "severe" and there is objective evidence to support it, she does not agree with limitations and pain expressed. Who is she to know how much pain somoneone is in and how can she deny the medical evidence that supports the pain? Shameful..

He doesn't work and is always excusing the workers for his mistakes. He makes mistakes all the time. He can't make up his mind on what he wants. He cancels out the hearings and have them rescheduled over and over again. He can't perform the ALJ duties. He keeps the employees busy covering up his failure to perform the ALJ duties. He doesn't review the case loads timely. How did he get hired? Who hired him? How did he get the job?

Dear Judge Daniel Dadabo,
I wanted to thank you for given me the chance to take back and regain control of my life. You and Nash Disability Law and North River mental Health, Illinois Masonic and Old Irving Park Medical have helped me under stand a part of my life that I didn't not believe. My life long struggles with mental illines and bullying and abuse have not been easy and I suspect that with continued therapy and help from the SSA I can become a productive and postive individual again. I didn't want to admit there was anything wrong, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and autisim are not thing that you want to tell people there is such a stgma around that poeple either shun you or attack you and abuse you, which I have experienced my whole life til this day. Every day is a struggle just to be able to put close to clean myself properly, even being able to talk to some are accept a simple hug or hand shake any time some seems out of order I can become enraged or scared like a child. It makes it impossible to have any sort of relationships or to go to school or hold on to a job or go shopping!
Once Again I would ask for your continued help along with help from Nash Disability and the SSA perhaps I can get better and get the help I need repair my life and take back control of my life from those who have taken so much away from me!
Best regards,
Gregory Tarczynski

Judge Jose Anglada is a wonderful and understanding Judge. He makes honest and fair decision with his cases. He was the Judge, for my case . . . in whish he made a great impact in my life base on the disicion that, he made on my case. . . and for that, I will be thankful as well as my family. Thank you !!!

This man filed a lawsuit because he didn't get a job as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Judge, so he sued won then lost,even with his extra points for serving in the military he couldn't keep this job. He could not get a job as an FCC judge, so he sued and lost. Social Security ALJ is the only job he could get. He is disgruntled and takes it out on applicants.
He refused to consider witness testimony from the Vocation Rehab Counselor, and threw out the Social Security doctor's exam report.
I was told by the ODAR in Fort Wayne he had been fired. The Chicago office denies he ever worked there.

Jose . . . Thank so much for understanding my case last year . . . you would not know what a blessing it became about . . . I would always be grateful . . I am doing a little bit much better . . . Again, Thank you so very much for understanding . . . you are a great judge . . . keep up the good work!!!!
I rate you a 100% = 10

I live in Ohio & I had Judge Grippo for my video hearing. I was having a bad day on the day of my Hearing & therefor he ruled that my testomony was not "creditible" because it was "vague"! He also decided to ignore my Dr's report & my limitations, & instead he valued the report of the Dr that SS had sent me to! My attorney & I both agreed that some of his questions were totally out of line!!! He nit-picked my case to death, ignoring all suporting evidence & his decision of denial was extreamly prejudice!! I am very close to lossing everything including what is left of my mind!! This prejudice man has no compassion or empathy and should not be allowed to be a Judge!!!

Judge Daniel Dadabo; I'm Diane Elizabeth Butler, the lady the wrote the following: ("You help me and because of your help I am on the road to healing and becomming a resourceful individual. Thank You Judge Daniel Dadabo. Sincerely, Diane Elizabeth Butler")
Well with all that said...I need to speak with you regarding an issue. I'm being BULLIED. The statements I made above are Sincere and Truthful. As I make every attempt to HEAL AND BECOME RESOURCEFUL AGAIN; The adverse actions that are enforced against me could keep me sick to getting sicker and have to remain a liability to the administration. The deliberate action of those who are attacking me and continually working against me keeps me in a constant fight.Medically you know I cannot stay any long period in a constant "flight to fight" It will raise my cortisol and keep it high which will eventually cause another "CRASH" ---When what I'm doing to heal and become resourceful is really me staying discipline and focused. Please allow me to meet and speak with you... my home number is ***-***-****, cell: ***-***-**** ..email: delizabeth26@yahoo.com.. Please speak with me.. I need your Wisdom and Guidance... Sincerely, Diane Elizabeth Butler

He didn't even listen to me or the there witness the vocational expect who said with my limitations that there was no work that I could do.So here I sit trying to figure out do we live in the apt. and let the car go or let them evict us and live in the car. THANKS JUDGE